Author Archives : The Left Hook

Third Candidate Jumps into Race for Senate Seat Vacated by Bill Monning


Republican Neil G. Kitchens, an agriculture businessman and fifth generation rancher, has thrown his hat into the ring for the open 17th Senate District seat. The position is currently held by Bill Monning who is terming out. This is not Kitchens’ first attempt at political office. In 2018, he ran for California’s 30th Assembly District to replace termed out Assembly Member Anna…

SBLC Political Director Says Goodbye


After nearly five years with the South Bay Labor Council (SBLC), Political Director David Urhausen is leaving to pursue a new opportunity with SEIU-UHW’s political leadership team where he will continue to fight for working families in the labor movement. David, who has time and again shown his keen understanding of the South Bay’s political landscape, has been instrumental in successfully…

Policy Watch: Week of 5/27


City of San Jose Survey results on favorability of potential 2020 ballot measures to address homelessness, housing Since the State of California ended redevelopment in February 2012, the City of San Jose has lacked new revenue sources to fund the construction of affordable housing. Through feasibility analysis and survey research, the Administration has begun to explore a variety of ballot…

Rose Herrera Enters Santa Clara County Supervisor Race


The race for Santa Clara County Supervisor just got a little more competitive. Rose Herrera, former San Jose Vice Mayor, has pulled papers to run for Supervisor.  Herrera, the latest candidate to join the race, enters a crowded field of political veterans, including San Jose Council Member Magdalena Carrasco, San Jose Planning Commissioner John Leyba and former Sunnyvale Mayor Otto…

Rich Tran Jumps into Assembly Race, Withdraws Candidacy for Supervisor


Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran is withdrawing his candidacy for Santa Clara County Supervisor and jumping into the race for State Assembly District 25 – looking to replace Kansen Chu who is running for Supervisor.  Tran’s announcement came via an early morning Facebook post in which he stated that he did not want to campaign against Kansen, someone he considers a…

Candidate for Democratic Party Chair Ruffles Local Party Feathers


Last Friday, the Santa Clara County Democratic Party held its annual Victory Dinner, and as expected the event was a who’s who of Silicon Valley Democrats. This year, Rusty Hicks and Kimberly Ellis, candidates for California Democratic Party Chair also attended the dinner, taking the opportunity to network with potential supporters. While local Democratic Party leaders tried to raise some…

Policy Watch: Week of 5/20


Santa Clara County Approving $400K contract with Gensler for public outreach & site plan for potential future re-development of Reid-Hillview At the December 4, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting the Board adopted several actions related to the County Airports System.  Item number four of the referral directed administration to invite the City of San Jose to engage in a joint…

Policy Watch: Week of 5/13


Santa Clara County Update on development agreement negotiations with Stanford University; County has suspended negotiations due to problems with Stanford’s commitments to PAUSD Pursuant to Board of Supervisors direction at the October 16, 2018 (Item No. 9) meeting at which the Board directed the Administration to enter into a negotiation process with Stanford University on a possible development agreement relating…

Who Will Step Up to Fill Assembly Member Chu’s Seat?


Yesterday’s surprising announcement that Assembly Member Kansen Chu will make a play for Supervisor Dave Cortese’s open seat instead of seeking re-election has left folks wondering who will step up to be the next Assembly Member. Anna Song, the most seasoned member of the Santa Clara County Office of Education, is rumored to be interested. Song, with years of experience…

San Jose’s District 10 Race Gets a Bit More Crowded


The race to replace termed-out Council Member Johnny Khamis is getting a little more crowded.  Jenny Higgins Bradanini, President of the Bay Area Women’s March, was the first to announce her campaign in March of this year. Most recently Higgins Bradanini served as former Council Member Rocha’s policy director and previously worked on a number of local candidate campaigns. Rumored to be throwing…